Kelly's Hot Mess: Ode to Kate on Your 13th Birthday

July 8, 2020

My Dearest Kate,

Happy, Happy 13th Birthday!

How can it be? You're a teenager!! And, because you're such an amazingly creative one--you made you're own birthday cake...Devil's Food with layers of vanilla and chocolate buttercream frosting, sides of milk chocolate and macadamia nuts along with maraschino cherries to top it off!

And this cake is a great representation of where you love to find yourself these days...baking all kinds of macarons--vanilla mint, stawberry citrus--you name it, you're working to perfect the recipe and asking how old you have to be to work in a bakery.

But this is just scratching the surface...you love, love, love to create. And since we've been home during quarantine, you've done plenty of it--whether you're sewing, painting, digitally drawing or playing a song on the piano, you're always bringing beauty into the world.

And to that end, ballet still lives strong in your heart. This year, we saw a dream emerge as you garnered your first pair of pointe shoes and danced again in the Omaha Dance Project.

And while you continue to create, you continue to exude brilliance. It's still very important to you to take your time, to do the work well, and to stay passionate and curious about what might be around the corner to take the project to the next level. We absolutely love this about you.

A few weeks ago, we went on a much needed family vacation to Estes Park, Colorado. We'd been cooped up in doors for weeks on end worried about the state of the world enduring a global pandemic. Together, with Grandma Bonnie, Aunt Lisa, and Uncle Cory we climbed mountains, rode on our bikes, made dinner together, played games at night, ate ice cream and taffy every chance we got, and talked about what it means to be a family, and to remember how much you are loved and valued.

And in a really special way, Aunt Lisa crafted a "13-days of celebrating Kate extravaganza" complete with thoughtful cards, gifts and kindness--but the final day, she presented you with a gift that was so special.

The engraved bracelet says, "You are loved. You are valued. You are beautiful."

Becoming a young woman is a tricky business. The world will teach you that you have to be all sorts of things to be deemed worthy. And, because you haven't had enough life experience, you'll be tempted to buy into the premise that you have to turn yourself inside out to try to win their praises. The truth is that your only job is to cling deeply to yourself. The weirder, smarter, kinder, gentler, louder, more fiercely "you" the better. There is only one Kate Gering and she is magnificent--and we are all better because you are here.

As you grow (which, can we talk about that for a second? You're already 5 and a half feet tall and wear the same shoe size as me??!!), which inevitably you will keep doing--now, more than ever, know this in your heart--you are extraordinary--you are deeply loved--you are incredibly wanted. You never have to prove yourself or change yourself to be loved. You, the perfectly imperfect you is more than enough.

So, as we celebrate you becoming teenager, lean on your family. We're crazy. We curse. We're a little socially inappropriate. We love to tell silly stories. We like to have fun. We are your people. And, we will be there for you through all of the ups and downs. All of the seasons. All of the uncertainties and unknowns. You can count on us.